Republic of Haiti (1859–1957)

The Republic of Haiti (French: République d’Haïti, Haitian Creole: Repiblik d Ayiti) was reestablished by Fabre Geffrard following the fall of Faustin I and his empire. Geffrard's rule was short-lived; in 1867, Sylvain Salnave overthrew Geffrard and ruled autocratically, leading to widespread discontent and his eventual execution in 1870. He was succeeded by General Jean-Nicolas Nissage Saget.

The late 19th century saw the rise of two political parties: the Liberal Party (PL), representing the mulatto elite, and the National Party (PN), aligned with the black majority. In a rare instance of orderly succession, Saget peacefully handed power over to National-aligned Michel Domingue. However, Domingue's presidency cut short in 1876 when the Liberals overthrew him, installing Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal in his place. The Liberals then became increasingly factionalized and divided, paving the way for Lysius Salomon, part of the Nationals, to assume the presidency on 1879. The presidency of Lysius Salomon (1879–1888) brought monetary reform and a cultural renaissance, yet his attempts to extend his rule sparked opposition, leading to his resignation; Haiti descended into civil war. Florvil Hyppolite (1889–1896) eventually reunified the nation, ushering in a rare period of political stability that was maintained by his successor Tirésias Simon Sam (1896–1902).

By the 20th-century however, Haiti was again engulfed in political turmoil, with the rise of a movement named Firminism, advocating for economic reform and civilian governance, clashing with traditional military elites. The rivalry between Anténor Firmin and General Pierre Nord Alexis culminated in a civil war in 1902, which ended with Alexis’s victory and Firmin’s exile. From 1911 to 1915, Haiti experienced extreme instability, with six presidents either killed or forced into exile. The United States, concerned about German influence in Haiti, intervened in 1915, beginning a 19-year occupation. During this period, the U.S. controlled Haiti’s finances, established a professional military force, and implemented infrastructure projects, but also suppressed dissent and excluded Haitians from governance. The occupation era ended in 1934.

The post-occupation era saw the rise of authoritarian leaders like Sténio Vincent and Élie Lescot, who marginalized opposition and cooperated with Rafael Trujillo, the dictator of the Dominican Republic. In 1946, Dumarsais Estimé was elected president, introducing progressive reforms, but his alienation of the military and elite led to a coup in 1950. Paul Magloire’s presidency (1950–1956) was marked by natural disasters, economic mismanagement, and political repression, culminating in his ouster. The republic ended in 1957 with the election of François Duvalier, whose rise to power marked the beginning of the Duvalier dynasty.